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PIRITUAL  EVOLUTION 


BY 


WARREN     HOLDEN, 

AUTHOR  OF  "FOURTEEN  SONNETS,"  "SONG  OF  THE  SEA," 
AND  "AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  LOVE," 


"   OP  THK         ^ 

'UNIVERSITY; 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PRESS  OF  J.  B.  L1PPINCOTT  COMPANY. 


Copyright,  1889,  by  WARREN  HOLDEN. 


PREFACE. 

THE  too  literal  interpretation  of  the  Sacred 
Scriptures  exposes  them  to  the  assaults  of  infidelity 
and  atheism. 

In  order  to  rescue  the  Bible  from  such  profane 
handling,  it  is  necessary  to  reconcile  its  apparent 
self-contradictions;  and  nothing,  it  seems  to  the 
present  writer,  can  do  this  so  effectually  as  the  un 
reserved  recognition  of  its  symbolic  character. 

Some  examples  of  symbolism  are  given  in  the 
following  verses. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Prelude II 

Creator 15 

Creature 16 

Creation 16 

Eden 17 

The   Fall 18 

Lost  Innocence ' 19 

Evolution 2O 

The    Flood 21 

The   Prodigal 22 

Idolatry 22 

Atheism 23 

Kgypt 25 

Correspondence 26 

Exodus 27 


PAGE 

Canaan 28 

Boyhood  of  David 29 

King  David 32 

Solomon    .    , 34 

Parable 35 

Nature 37 

Macrocosm  and  Microcosm 38 

Water 39 

Mountains 4° 

Human  Freedom 41 

Paradox 45 

Responsibility  of  Freedom 46 

Advent!     "  The  Hour  before  Dawn" 47 

The  Annunciation 4 

Christmas 49 

The  Massacre  of  the  Innocents 5° 

The  Christ-Child 51 

Boyhood  of  Christ 52 

"Voice   from  the  Wilderness" 53 

New  Truth 54 

Temptations 55 

Changing  Water  to  Wine 56 


PAGE 

Purification  of  the  Temple 57 

New  Birth.     Miracle 5 

Cause  and  Effect 

Science  and  Faith 

Truth  and  Fact 

Reason  and  Faith 3 

Faith  and  Creed 64 

Sin  and  Crime 5 

.    66 
Law 

Prayer    

"In  Him  we  Live  and  Move  and  have  our  Being" 68 

Pantheism 

Universal  Fatherhood 

Life  and  Death 

The  Paralytic 

7  ^ 
Repentance 

The  Bread  of   Life 74 

Correspondence *5 

What  Defileth ?6 

Humility 

•   7s 
Consistency 

7Q 
Conformity 


PAGE 

Innocence 80 

Love  thy  Neighbor  as  Thyself 8 1 

The  Limit  of  Happiness 82 

True  Doctrine 83 

Sacred  and  Profane 84 

A  Time  for  all  Things 85 

Deceitfulness  of  Riches 85 

Good   Stewardship 86 

Personal  Salvation 87 

Tolerance 88 

Revenge 88 

Who  is  Chief? 89 

The  Snare  of  Riches 90 

God's  Dwelling-place 91 

"  I  have  yet  many  Things  to  say,"  etc 92 

Daily  Providence 93 

Keeping  the  Sabbath .  94 

Christ's   Friends 94 

Leading  Motives 94 

Omnipotence 95 

Life's  Overflow 96 

God's  Likeness 97 

8 


PAGE 

Christ's   Lamentation   over  Jerusalem     .  9s 

Washing  the  Disciples'   Feet 99 

The  Agony IO° 

The  Betrayal Io° 

Non-resistance Io! 

Mock  Trial Io1 

The   Denial IO2 

Ascent  of  Calvary IO-> 

The  Crucifixion IO4 

The  Atonement Io6 

Human  Error IO7 

The  Messianic  Function Io8 

Inherited  Creeds l  Io 

Quiet  and    Progress ! 

The  Burial      ...  II2 

The    Resurrection 

Easter "3 

The   Ascension U4 

Preaching  the   Gospel "4 

Final  Triumph !I5 

L'Envoi.  Il6 


Notes 


117 


PRELUDE. 

Irreverent  wits  deride  the  Holy  Word. 
It  seems  at  variance  with  common  sense ; 
And  seems  to  countenance  such  gross  offence, 
As  makes  its  claim  to  holiness  absurd. 

Of  /Ksop's  fables  have  they  never  heard? 

Ho\v  Wisdom  aims  her  lessons  to  convey 

By  trite  examples,  offered  every  day, 

So  plain  that  simple  souls  need  not  have  erred, 

All  sacred  history  is  apologue, 
Involving  meanings  for  the  time  concealed, 
Hut,  when  their  aid  is  opportune,  revealed, 
From  wheels  of  progress  to  remove  a  clog. 
ii 


Thus  trivial  fact  becomes  momentous  truth, 
And  graceless  acts  of  stubborn  human  will 
A  mystic  part  are  destined  to  fulfil : 
So  graceful  form  grows  out  of  shape  uncouth. 

To  make  free  agents  serve  against  their  will, 
Yet  own  their  vaunted  freedom  quite  intact, 
And  feel  responsible  for  every  act, 
Attests  God's  infinite  resource  and  skill. 

To  make  self-will  its  prejudice  resign, 
To  make  self-love  its  private  aims  forego, 
And  all  its  goods  in  charity  bestow, 
Is  the  last  victory  of  love  divine. 

Stript  of  disguise,  'tis  virtually  taught 
That,  man's  creation  proving  a  mistake, 
A  total  change  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  make 
Of  hasty  plans, — an  obvious  after-thought. 


12 


Shall  the  dull  clay  presume  to  criticise, 
Unknowing  what  the  potter  hath  designed? 
Or  shall  vain  man  unfold  his  Maker's  mind, 
But  dimly  pictured  to  prophetic  eyes? 

The  primal  Adam  was  the  embryo  man, 
Perfected  manhood's  rude  predictive  type. 
The  second  Adam,  when  the  time  is  ripe, 
Appears,  to  consummate  creation's  plan. 

The  mere  phenomenal  most  men  can  know, 
Which  providences  day  by  day  create, 
As  step  by  step  we  march  to  meet  our  fate 
By  gradual  paths  of  evolution  slow. 

So  you're  an  evolutionist,  cries  one. 
True  evolution  takes  its  rise  within, 
As  cobwebs  from  their  bowels  spiders  spin ; 
As  shadows  follow  motions  of  the  sun. 


God  is  the  active  evolutionist. 
Men  see  his  shadow  and   "Eureka"  cry; 
Life's  modus  operandi  think  they  spy, — 
All  things  evolve  themselves,  and  thus  exist. 

First  let  them  seek  God's  kingdom  in.  the  soul  ; 
Submit,  like  little  children,  to  be  led ; 
With  wisdom  from  above  be  meekly  fed ; 
And  inward  order  will  to  sight  unroll. 


CREATOR. 

From  the  beginning  the  "I  Am"  is  One. 
And  this  "I  Am"  is  love,  and  love  is  life. 
With  love  supreme  the  Universe  is  rife. 
By  love  alone  creation's  work  is  done. 

Love's  omnipresence  doth  all  things  embrace ; 
Omniscience  all  things  great  and  small  doth  scan. 
His  form  is  human  ;    he  is  primal  man, 
But  yet  unlimited  by  time  or  space. 

By  Wisdom  Love  doth  active  good  invent. 
Father  and  Son  inform  the  Hoi}-  Ghost. 
Like  soul  and  body  in  one  aim  engrossed, 
These  three  are  One :    the  trine  omnipotent. 


CREATURE. 

Love  said  to  Wisdom,  let  us  make  mankind. 
Our  image  and  our  likeness  they  must  share: 
Give,  therefore,  Will  and  Understanding,  where 
Wisdom  and  Love  may  fitly  be  enshrined. 

As  of  themselves  the  godlike  race  shall  seem 
To  know  the  good  and  freely  choose  the  right, 
Led  by  apparent  whims  of  self-delight ; 
While  heaven's  far-sighted  aim  is  to  redeem. 

CREATION. 

Let  there  be  light !     A  million  suns  appear : 
The  splendid  proxies  of  that  central  sun, 
Which  closely  veils  the  unapproached  One, 
Whose  heat  would  all  consume  if  felt  too  near. 

These  suns  were  fit  alembics  to  resolve 
Love's  fire  and  crystallize  in  many  an  earth, 
Adapted  for  preliminary  birth, 
While  man's  creation  slowly  might  evolve. 
16 


EDEN. 

When  geologic  epochs  are  complete, 
And  the  bare  earth  is  clothed  with  verdant  spring, 
How  sweet  the  morning  stars  together  sing, 
While  Eden  waits  her  bridal  guests  to  greet  -. 

And  all  the  sons  of  God  shout  with  delight ; 
For  restless  nomad  now  may  cease  to  roam, 
Since  wedded  love  hath  found  a  garden  home. 
Where  innocence  may  blossom  free  from  blight. 

A  cycle  of  beatitude  begun, 

The  golden  age  flew  by  on  facile  wing, 

The  kindreds  took  no  thought  for  anything, 

But  passed  from  earth  to  heaven  and  deemed  them  one. 


2* 


THE   FALL. 

The  tribe,  which  Adam's  name  doth  symbolize, 
Must  now  be  weaned  and  taught  to  go  alone; 
Or  else  remain  a  baby  overgrown, 
The  tender  nursling  of  indulgent  skies. 

E'en  as  a  boy  must  leave  his  father's  roof, 
Like  new-made  knight  with  oriflamb  unfurled, 
To  try  conclusions  with  the  outside  world, 
And  put  his  budding  manhood  to  the  proof: 

So  must  forecasting  Providence  exclude 
The  young  race  from  the  cradle  of  its  birth, 
To  sally  forth  and  grapple  with  the  earth, 
A  wilderness  of    passions  unsubdued. 


18 


LOST    INNOCENCE. 
Oh,  blissful  days  of  early  innocence, 
Ere  sleeping  passion  dreamed  of  snares  to  dread, 
Or  harpy  lusts  upon  life's  banquet  fed  ; 
When  unseen  guardians  hovered  in  defence, 
And  angel-whispers  came  unquestioned  whence ; 
While  stars  propitious  kindly  influence  shed ; 
Oh,  halcyon  days,  are  ye  forever  fled? 
And  am  I  quite  cast  off  by  Providence? 

Crude  childhood's  innocence  is  but  the  root 
Whence  late  developing  experience  grows. 
Betwixt  the  germ  of  promise  and  the  fruit 
Life's  patient  years  of  culture  interpose, 
Removing  noxious  weed  and  straggling  shoot, 
Till  wisdom's  innocence  maturely  glows. 


EVOLUTION. 

Creation  is  the  building  of  a  man  ; 
A  house  not  made  with  hands  on  mortal  plan; 
A  temple  where  the  God  of  heaven  may  dwell, 
Its  architecture  could  no  weird  foretell. 

To  fashion  man  in  God's  similitude, 
A  creature  with  creative  powers  endued, 
A  character  of  all  perfections  blent; 
Betokens  handicraft  omnipotent. 

For  man  is  not  a  mere  automaton, 

By  sleight  of  cunning  showman  played  upon. 

Destined  as  of  himself  a  part  to  act, 
Slowly  evolving  truth  from  naked  fact, 
Life's  problems  he  must  one  by  one  forethink, 
Forging  the  chain  of  being  link  by  link. 


20 


THE   FLOOD. 

The  self-sufficient  youth  would  go  unchecked: 
He  takes  the  bit  between  his  teeth  stiff-necked. 

A  skilful  rider  gives  his  charger  rein. 
Feeling  the  freedom  of  his  native  plain, 
With  pride  the  Arab  tosses  high  his  head, 
And  spurns  the  ground  beneath  disdainful  tread, 
Unmindful  of  the  check  that  bides  its  time, 
Ready  to  sober  arrogance  sublime. 

So  came  the  flood  upon  the  rampant  youth, 
To  curb  his  bold  defiance  of  the  truth. 
On  Shinar's  plain  ambition  prostrate  lies, 
Where  Babel's  tower  aspired  to  scale  the  skies. 


21 


THE   PRODIGAL. 

Self-confidence  must  run  its  reckless  race, 
Self-providence  must  end  in  bankruptcy, 
Or  prodigal  will  ne'er  his  steps  retrace, 
And  humbly  seek  paternal  wisdom's  knee. 

The  groping  race  must  find  its  only  friend 
Through  many  ups  and  downs  of  seeming  ill 
And  seeming  good,  subserving  one  main  end, 
Their  Maker's  service  with  spontaneous  will. 

IDOLATRY. 

To  idol-worship  man  is  ever  prone. 
To  rectify  the  vicious  native  bent, 
By  adequate  reward  and  punishment, 
From  Abram  down ;    the  will  of  God  is  shown. 


ATHEISM. 

But  the  great  mass  was  superstition's  tool. 
Yet  these  were  nearer  truth  than  the  wise  fool 
Whose  shallow  heart  hath  said  "  there  is  no  God. 
No  God  !    Why  not  no  sun,  no  sea,  no  land 
Besieging  every  sense  on  every  hand  ? 
Nature  with  all  her  voices  utters  "God." 

Dependence  is  the  burden  of  her  vow. 

This  of  necessity  implies  a  God, 

A  power  above  to  which  all  knees  must  bow, 

Uplifting  man  above  the  senseless  clod ; 

A  Providence  that  orders  our  defence, 

Whose  sovereign  sway  commands  our  reverence. 

No  revelation  needs  to  make  us  know 
A   God;  but  only  the  true  God  to  show. 


The  counterfeit  implies  the  genuine. 
A  suckling  may  mistake  its  proper  dam, 
And  may  be  well  contented  with  the  sham ; 
But  never  doubts  the  proper  dam  hath  been. 

The  beastly  bushman  and  the  sceptic  grand 
Are  fellow-atheists  of  kindred  mind, 
Deaf  to  faith's  still  small  voice  from  spirit  land, 
To  hope's  irradiant  rainbow  color-blind. 

These  rare  exceptions  but  confirm  the  rule, 
Intuitive  belief,  whatever  school. 


EGYPT 

From  Egypt  there  goes  up  a  cry  of  pain, 
God's  chosen  people  groaning  under  reign 
Of  sin  and  self,  taskmasters  full  of  pride. 
In  his  own  household  man's  worst  foes  reside. 

The  force  of  circumstance  who  weakly  pleads 
Shall  be  a  servant's  servant  evermore. 
Who  says  the  woman  in  temptation  leads 
Is  fit  for  stripes.     To  laughter  give  him  o'er. 

Each  soul  must  stand  or  fall  by  his  own  deed. 
Yet  God  is  merciful  as  man  hath  need. 
A  bruised  reed  he  shall  not  rudely  break 
And  smoking  flax  he  shall  not  coldly  quench ; 
But  keep  the  feeblest  spark  of  truth  awake, 
The  weakest  will  of  virtue  strong  intrench. 

So  God  took  council  on  his  people's  side, 
And  chose  a  man  of  God  to  be  their  guide. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

To  gain  the  sanctuary  of  the  Word, 
Refer  each  outward  act  to  inward  cause. 
Learn  to  interpret  spiritual  laws : 
Voices  within  the  veil  may  then  be  heard. 
Let  Egypt  signify  the  natural  heart, 
With  Moses  and  the  host  on  either  part ; 
And  meanings  full  of  pith  may  be  inferred. 

Thus  Pharaoh,  representing  natural  sense, 
And  roughly  ruling  the  mind's  kingdom  thence, 
Plague-smitten  hardly  lets  the  people  go 
To  worship  God  the  way  his  precepts  show. 


26 


EXODUS. 

Then  Moses  leads  them,  fighting  all  along 
With  desert  armies  of  temptation  strong. 
Pillar  of  fire  by  night  and  cloud  by  day, 
A  mystic  banner,  guides  their  doubtful  way. 

At  every  stage  some  enemies  they  slew. 
The  Red  Sea  swallowed  up  a  wicked  crew. 
Gaunt  famine  fed  her  fill,  and  pestilence 
Stalked  in  the  darkness,  mocking  at  defence ; 
While  dire  destruction  wasted  in  broad  day,N 
Scorpions  and  fiery  serpents  spread  dismay. 

()  human  heart,  thou  cage  of  unclean  birds, 
Thou  den  of  evil  beasts,  few  be  thy  words. 


27 


CANAAN. 

But  Moses  pleased  not  God  at  Horeb's  rock, 
Reluctant  with  his  rod  the  springs  to  unlock. 
The  promised  land  forbid,  from  Pisgah's  height 
He  views :    a  symbol,  in  its  fruitful  soil, 
Of  blessedness  reserved  for  man's  delight, 
When  the  new  heavens  and  earth  divide  their  spoil. 

The  ceremonial  law  was  but  a  school 

To  discipline  the  heart  for  Christ's  mild  rule. 

Spontaneous  love  his  new  commandment  brings. 

At  his  behest  faith's  living  waters  flow, 

A  well  that  from  the  heart  forever  springs ; 

And  dead  formalities  unmissed  may  go. 


BOYHOOD  OF   DAVID. 
There  was  a  boy  on  far  Judea's  hills 
Who  kept  his  father's  sheep.      His  story  fills 
Full  many  a  page  of  sacred  history. 
The  first  page  solves  his  fortune's  mystery. 

Joy  waits  upon  his  steps  from  mom  till  eve; 

And  peace  prepares  the  dreams  his  slumbers  weave. 

The  sun  arose  to  represent  the  throne 
Of  Deity  in  dazzling  splendor  shown. 
He  worshipped  there  with  soul  and  body  prone. 

In  milder  beauty  sank  the  evening  sun, 
Bedecked  with  robe  of  many  colors  spun. 
Again  he  bowed  and  made  his  orison. 

While  on  the  blazoned  shield  that  shelters  night, 
Whose  stars  betoken  truth  and  honor  bright, 
He  read  his  destiny  in  signs  of  light. 

3*  29 


He  knew  no  fear,  because  he  knew  no  sin, 
Content  to  let  the  Master  rule  within. 

To  meet  a  bear  and  lion  in  the  way, 

And  with  his  hands  alone  the  beasts  to  slay, 

For  such  a  boy  was  merely  rugged  play. 

To  hurl  a  boastful  giant  headlong  down, 
And  burst  the  bubble  of  his  false  renown, 
Enough  a  shepherd's  sling  and  polished  stone, 
By  hand  of  innocence  and  trust  if  thrown. 

No  false  pretence  his  honor  could  betray, 
For  he  had  learned  to  love  and  to  obey. 
Obedience  was  his  proper  name;    and  love, — 
Love  and  obedience,  names  revered  above. 


Thou  happy  shepherd  boy !    Oh,  hapless  day, 
When  needful  service  called  the  boy  away 
And  made  of  him  a  conqueror  and  king : 
As  if  that  office  were  the  one  grand  thing. 

Thrice  happier  the  simple  shepherd  boy 
Than  all  the  kings  in  one;    with  all  their  joy 
Of  gold  and  gauds  and  ceremonial  rites, 
And  lawless  power  and  sensuous  delights, 
That  ever  gratified  the  shallow  heart 
Of  grown-up  children.     Must  we  ever  part, 
My  David  ?     Oh,  come  back,  boy  of  the  soul, 
And  be  the  model  of  young  self-control. 


KING   DAVID. 

And  David  fought  the  battles  of  the  Lord, 
Who  gave  the  kings  as  dust  unto  his  sword. 
Saul  slew  his  thousands :    David  ten  times  more, 
Triumphing  gloriously  o'er  and  o'er. 

And  David's  harp  could  soothe  the  wrath  of  Saul; 

From  evil  spirit  gently  disenthrall. 

His  skilful  fingers  could  the  raptures  raise 

Of  humble  hope  and  joy  and  pious  praise, 

And  ring  the  changes  of  the  heart's  wild  ways. 

"Man  after  God's  own  heart"  though  grand  his  style, 

Yet  for  a  moment  heeding  subtle  wile 

Of  the  sly  serpent,  self;    he  fell,— how  low! 

A  common  sinner  could  no  lower  go. 


32 


Ah,  who  hits  any  strength  in  his  own  right? 
The  moment  man  lets  go  his  hold  on  God, 
He  sinks  into  the  black  abyss  of  night. 
Thence  painful  paths  of  penitence  are  trod, 
Ere  he  may  dare  look  up  in  heaven's  pure  sight. 

Out  of  the  depths  do  I  cry  unto  thee : 

Hear  me,  O  Lord ;    attend  the  voice  of  my  prayer. 

If  thou,  O  Lord,  shouldst  mark  iniquity, 

Lord,  who  shall  stand?     But  'tis  thy  right  to  spare. 

M\   waiting  soul  forgiveness  hopes  to  share. 


33 


SOLOMON. 

In  dreams  the  heart  betrays  its  real  aim. 
Dreams  hold  a  mirror  to  the  naked  breast, 
Revealing  all  we  secretly  love  best, 
Whether  it  be  our  glory  or  our  shame. 

Happy  the  man  who  shrinks  not  from  the  view. 
King  Solomon  thus  made  his  famous  choice. 
The  land  of  Israel  might  well  rejoice 
When  that  propitious  dream  was  proven  true. 

So  God  made  Solomon  the  wisest  man, 
To  judge  with  equity  and  rule  with  ease ; 
Both  good  and  evil,  friend  and  foe  to  please; 
And  added  wealth  that  human  wish  outran. 

Solomon's  fame  was  like  a  meteor  hurled 
Blazing  abroad,  the  wonder  of  the  world. 
Yet  a  mere  child,  that  knows  but  to  obey, 
Shall  better  keep  the  straight  and  narrow  way. 


PARABLE. 

If  scripture,  when  interpreted  aright, 
Includes  all  your  profound  philosophy, 
Why  not  lay  bare  the  truth  to  common  sight  ? 

Deep  truth,  when  sown  in  simple,  childlike    minds, 
To  whom  appearance  is  reality, 
Assimilates  the  scanty  soil  it  finds. 

We  suffer  children  to  believe  their  eyes, 

Nor  torture  them  with  knowledge  premature, — 

Old  heads  upon  young  shoulders  in  disguise. 

Races,  like  them,  must  creep  before  they  walk, 
And  gradually  make  their  footing  sure. 
So  too  they  lisp  before  they  plainly  talk. 


The  simple  facts  as  final  truths  to  see 
In  scriptures  given  to  a  forming  race, 
Is  like  defending,  with  a  serious  face, 
Each  nursery  tale  as  valid  history. 

Nature  and  human  history  are  true 
As  vehicles  of  deep  interior  things, 
Only  because  the  shifting  shadow  brings 
Semblance  of  hidden  substance  into  view. 

No  mere  fantastic  myth  is  symbolism. 
It  grows  as  orderly  as  flower  from  seed. 
Systematized,  it  forms  a  perfect  creed, 
All  consecrated  by  a  holy  chrism. 


NATURE. 

Thou  solemn  wood,  fair  hill,  and  pleasant  stream 
Befringed  with  flowers,  why  do  we  love  you  so? 
Our  yearning  hearts  along  your  pathways  go 
As  if  enchanted  in  a  blissful  dream. 
And  things  inanimate  all  living  seem ; 
While  bounteous  Nature's  lap  doth  overflow 
\Vith  goodly  gifts  her  lavish  hands  bestow 
To  crown  our  lives  with  happiness  supreme. 

Nature  is  rooted  in  the  human  soul. 

She  springeth  from  the  seed  that  man  hath  sown  ; 

And  owes  her  growth  to  his  occult  control. 

Our  fickle  moods  induce  her  changing  tone : 

A   part  of  us.  her  life  reflects  our  own, 

Each  part  a  typic  semblance  of  the  whole. 


37 


MACROCOSM   AND    MICROCOSM. 
There's  beauty  everywhere.     The  azure  sky, 
The  golden  sun  that  fills  the  world  with  light, 
The  moon  and  stars  that  glorify  the  night ; 
The  smiling  earth  with  mountains  towering  high, 
And  lowly  vales  between  that  sleeping  lie ; 
Lake,  river,  fall,  and  ocean  flashing  bright, 
Prairie  and  forest  wild  with  flowers  bedight ; 
And  all  reflected  in  the  human  eye, — 

The  many-colored  mirror  of  the  soul, 
Which  sees  itself  in  every  new  disguise, 
In  every  picture,  every  quaint  design 
The  world's  wide  panorama  may  unroll. 
The  meditative  eye  shall  recognize 
Each  shade  of  beauty  as  a  trait  divine. 


WATER. 

Around  the  lake  spellbound  we  idly  stray, 
Or  trace  the  streamlet,  dwindling  to  a  rill, 
Through  mead  and  vale  up  to  its  parent  hill, 
Whence  forth  it  starts  upon  its  winding  way. 
The  river  widely  roaming  finds  the  bay, 
Where  rest  the  wearied  argosies  so  still, 
Kscuped  from  conflict  with  the  ocean's  will, 
That  claims  intruders  for  his  lawful  prey. 

Around  the  world  the  sparkling  waters  roll, 
Conveying  health  and  wealth  to  every  part ; 
The  circulating  system  of  the  earth : 
So  truth  divine,  the  life-blood  of  the  soul, 
Shall  spring  perennial  in  the  human  heart, 
A  living  well,  baptismal  of  new  birth. 


39 


MOUNTAINS. 

O  height  sublime,  whose  fascinating  spell 
Can  lure  the  pilgrim  up  thy  rugged  side, 
Upon  thy  top  near  heaven  let  me  abide, 
Above  the  line  where  clouds  of  passion  dwell. 
Thy  crystal  atmosphere  shall  gently  quell 
The  rage  of  feverish  care  and  frantic  pride ; 
While  faith  beholds  a  vision  glorified, 
And  raptures,  awe-inspired,  the  bosom  swell. 

Mount  Sinai,  thou  type  of  holy  fear, 

Thunder  and  lightning  bode  thy  threatening  rod. 

Pisgah  surveys  the  land  of  promised  cheer. 

A  chosen  few  the  mount  of  glory  trod. 

Mount  Olivet  to  Jesus'  memory  dear. 

Fair  Zion's  hill,  the  dwelling-place  of  God. 


40 


HUMAN    FREEDOM. 

God  has  all   power  or  else  he  were  no  god. 
Hut  with  discretion  must  he  use  his  might, 
In  strict  observance  of  the  creature's  right ; 
Not  use  it  like  a  Jove's  capricious  nod. 

• 
To  fashion  man  by  archetype  so  high, — 

An  image  and  a  likeness  of  himself, — 
He  needs  must  humor  the  conceited  elf, 
His  freedom's  jealous  pride  must  pacify. 

You  prate  of  human  liberty,  and  tell 

How  gracious  God  designed  that  man  be  free; 

And  brand  as  his  most  bitter  enemy 

The  villain  who  that  liberty  would  sell. 

Yet  spite  of  all  your  promise  in  the  bud, 
And  spite  of  all  your  boasted  Providence, 
The  history  of  liberty's  defence 
Is  written  in  her  martyred  votaries'  blood. 


Rulers  have  claimed  divine  authority 
To  limit  subjects  to  a  beaten  path, 
To  dictate  faith,  interpret  heaven's  decree, 
And  punish  calcitrants  with  human  wrath. 

Dissenters  have  been  objects  of  contempt, 
Imprisoned,  mulcted,  scourged  for  conscience'  sake  ; 
Heretics  tortured  and  burned  at  the  stake, 
All  in  God's  name,  by  pharisees  who  dreamt 
That  they  were  favorites,  and  bent  the  knee 
In  thanks  for  heaven's  supposed  venality. 

If  God  loves  liberty,  why  doth  he  not 
Bury  beneath  an  avalanche  of  shame 
The  tricksters  who  belie  his  holy  name 
To  justify  their  hypocritic  plot? 


42 


Hold,  zealous  righter  of  all  human  wrong. 
I  pray  you  bridle  up  your  too  hot  haste, 
And  let  not  useful  energies  run  waste. 
God  doth  not  so  because  true  God  is  strong. 

Perceive  you  not  how  patience  infinite 
Shields  the  integrity  of  human  wit, 
Which  thou  wouldst  instantly  destroy  because 
Forsooth  'tis  not  controlled  by  thy  wise  laws? 

But  freedom's  God  permits  such  hypocrites 
To  think  they  wield  his  thunder-bolt  of  wrath. 
Thou  simpleton,  no  vengeance  mercy  hath. 
Love  is  God's  only  weapon,  as  befits. 

All  wrath  is  man's  device,  and  sin  betrays. 
But  God  shall  make  the  wrath  of  man  his  praise. 
Thou  Son  of  God,  who  died  that  we  might  live, 
Teach  us  thy  hardest  lesson, — to  forgive. 


43 


Freedom  is  ours:    and  ours  its  foul  abuse. 
Ages'  experience  must  teach   its  use. 

Although  reflection  force  us  to  infer 
That  man  is  merely  as  the  potter's  clay 
Moulded  by  the  divine  Artificer : 

Yet  must  man  feel  quite  uncontrolled  by  fate 
To  shape  his  course  in  his  own  wilful  way, 
Or  forfeit  manhood's  most  distinctive  trait. 

Why  tell  a  man  he's  free,  with  freedom's  tide 
Bounding  through  every  vein?     With  freedom's  breath 
Fresh  every  moment  from  hope's  mountain-side? 
What  questions  he  of  thraldoms  living  death? 


44 


PARADOX. 

He  knows  he's  free:    but  then  he  knows  as  well, 
Unless  God  ruled,  the  Universe  were  hell. 

The  spiritual  paradox;    resolved 

Somehow  by  superhuman  calculus : 

The  differentiated  infinite, 

Into  innumerable  atoms  split, 

Becomes  fragments)  man  with  time  involved. 

The  integrated  finite,  (iod-with-us. 

In   fact,  the  finite  and  the  infinite 

Are  opposites,  exclusive  each  to  each. 

Yet  constant  intercourse  must  bridge  the  breach, 

However  unexplained  by  human  wit. 

Truce  then  to  childish  fantasy  that  God 
Could  if  he  would  save  man  in  his  own  spite. 
Cooperation   is  creation's  might; 
Man  fills  his  role  or  life's  a  stage  untrod. 


45 


RESPONSIBILITY   OF   FREEDOM. 
Yet  boasted  freedom's  but  a  borrowed  boat, 
Re-borrowed  daily  bankrupts  chance  to  float. 
Let  him  beware  of  that  accruing  debt 
With  usance,  if  fair  gain  he  fail  to  get. 
That  debtor's  prison  hath  no  'scaping  door, 
Till  the  last  farthing  of  the  debt's  paid  o'er; 
False  steps  retraced  where  feet  unheeding  rove, 
The  web  of  wilful  wickedness  unwove. 

Doth  not  our  rich  and  generous  creditor 
Freely  forgive  the  debt?    What  thence  infer? 
Can  debt  forgiven  reclothe  a  naked  soul, 
Whose  garment  in  time's  loom  is  woven  whole? 
And  woven  only  by  his  own  right  hand, 
As  day  by  day  supplies  each  single  strand? 

Unto  himself  the  debt  is  mainly  due. 
Then  to  himself  let  every  soul  be  true, 
Seeking  true  riches,  careless  of  mere  pelf; 
And  heaven  will  help  the  soul  that  helps  himself. 
46 


ADVENT.      "THE    HOUR    BEFORE    DAWN." 
Watchman,  what  of  the  night?     The  clouds  increase, 
And  all  around  grows  darker  and  more  drear. 
Our  hearts  within  are  failing  us  for  fear, 
And  hope  deferred  is  pining  for  release. 
Why  lingers  the  long-promised  Prince  of  Peace, 
Messiah  sent  to  bring  salvation  near, 
To  free  the  captive,  broken  hearts  to  cheer, 
Of  sin  and  sorrow  to  command  surcease? 

The  Bridegroom  lingers  and  our  hearts  grow  faint, 
Waiting  with  longing  eyes  the  dawning  light; 
Our  lamps  go  out,  our  limbs  the  cold  benumbs. 
Is  there  no  ear  to  hear  man's  piteous  plaint? 
Watchman,  what  of  the  night?     What  of  the  night? 
The  watchman  saith :    Behold,  the  Bridegroom  comes. 


47 


THE   ANNUNCIATION. 

Hail,  highly  favored  one;    of  women  blest: 
Thy  virgin  bosom  heaven  doth  consecrate 
To  nurse  the  infant  Christ  to  man's  estate. 
Thus  Gabriel  announced  the  high  behest ; 
And  sweet  surprise  thy  modest  heart  confessed. 
The  weary  nations  need  no  longer  wait 
To  find  the  master-key  of  human  fate, 
The  long  expectant  ages'  promised  rest. 

Enough  to  ponder  in  thy  quiet  heart : 
All  generations  blessed  calling  thee, 

The  lowly  handmaid  raised  to  honor's  part. 

«b 
From  Eve's  hereditary  sorrow  free, 

The  happiest  of  womankind  thou  art, 
The  mother  of  the  Son  of  God  to  be. 


48 


CHRISTMAS. 

The  doom  impending  o'er  a  fallen  race 
By  love  miraculous  is  charmed  away; 
For  unto  us  a  child  is  born  this  day, 
Whose  innocence  shall   mortal  guilt  replace. 
All  hail  !     Thou  wonder  of  redeeming  grace  ! 
The  sheep  forlorn   in  wilderness  astray 
Their  rightful  shepherd's  voice  will  now  obey, 
And  all  their  weary  wanderings  retrace. 

Thou  babe  divine,  no  language  can  express 

The  boundless  mother-love  that  worships  thee, 

Bringing  its  gifts,  the  tribute  of  the  heart. 

To  hold  thee  clasped  in  reverent  caress, 

And  serve  thy  simple  needs  on  bended  knee, 

Or  watch  thy  sleep :    could  heaven  more  bliss  impart  ? 


49 


THE   MASSACRE   OF  THE   INNOCENTS. 
In  Rama  was  there  heard  the  voice  of  tears, 
Of  Rachel  weeping  for  her  children  slain, 
Refusing  comfort,  since  no  more  she  hears 
Prattle  that  tells  the  tale  of  summers  twain. 

Egypt  gave  refuge  to  the  Holy  One ; 
For  out  of  Egypt  God  hath  called  his  Son. 
Regeneration  leads  from  Egypt's  night 
Through  wilderness  of  sin  to  Canaan's  light. 

So  when  King  Herod  paid  the  debt  of  death, 
The  angel  of  the  Lord  brought  Joseph  word. 
Recall  from  exile  joyfully  they  heard, 
And  came  with  haste  and  dwelt  in  Nazareth. 


THE  CHRIST-CHILD. 
I   dreamed   it  was  my  happy  destiny 
To  guide  the  tender  Christ  in  worldly  ways; 
Explain  the  sights  that  filled  him  with  amaze, 
And  smooth  his  first  rough  steps  towards  Calvary. 
The  aureole  revealed  divinity, 
Crowning  his  l>ro\v  with  mildly  beaming  rays. 
His  docile  mien  and  far-off  wistful  gaze 
Had  moved  severest  mentor's  clemency. 

Awake,  I  was  a  teacher  of  rude  boys. 

Thenceforth  1  saw  them  with  indulgent  eyes, 

Partaking  heartily  their  simple  joys: 

Nor  sought  to  make  them  prematurely  wise, 

But  drew  them  out  with  innocent  decoys; 

For  each  one  seemed  the  Christ-child  in  disguise. 


BOYHOOD   OF  CHRIST. 
Know  ye  that  wondrous  boy  of  Holy  Writ, 
How  'mid  the  doctors  he  did  meekly  sit, 
Hearing  their  grave  discourse  with  eager  ears, 
And  asking  questions  far  beyond  his  years? 
About  his  father's  business  much  concerned 
Ere  other  boys  the  alphabet  have  learned 
Of  useful  service.     Happy  Nazareth  boys, 
His  playmates,  sharing  more  than  common  joys. 
Wistful  and  curious  ye  would  search  his  face, 
When  some  profounder  feeling  left  its  trace. 
Honoring  as  father  one  of  David's  line, 
Yet  hearing  whispers  of  a  sire  divine, — 
Whispers  prophetic  of  his  dire  crusade 
Against  the  powers  of  darkness, — undismayed 
He  reached  the  stature  of  his  heritage, 
Ripe  to  begin  his  painful  pilgrimage. 
The  Holy  Spirit  must  unloose  the  tongue 
That  would  dilate  the  story,  which  hath  rung 
Through  heaven's  high  courts  the  countless  choirs  among, 
A  song  of  wonder  more   than  half  unsung. 

52 


"VOICE   FROM   THE  WILDERNESS." 
Now  dawn  dispels  the  night-of-time's  despair. 
The  wilderness  reveals  a  youth  discreet, 
Whose  heart  is  love,  his  tongue  truth's  bitter-sweet. 
His  outer  garment  is  of  camel's  hair  ; 
The  robe  of  righteousness  his  soul  doth  wear. 
Though  locusts  and  wild  honey  are  his  meat, 
Each  word  proceeding  from  the  mercy-seat, 
The  bread  of  life,  his  choice  of  daily  fare. 

• 

He  preached  repentance, — change  in  point  of  view. 
For  man  self-centred,   God  as  central  sun, 
Adjusting  man's  abnormal  attitude. 
When  each  his  destined  orbit  traces  true, 
The  reign  of  chaos  ends,  Christ's  will  is  done, 
His  kingdom  come,  and  all  the  earth  renewed. 


53 


NEW   TRUTH. 

The  keen-eyed  watchman  on  fair  Zion's  wall 
On   far  horizon  spies  a  stranger  knight, 
Whose  banner,  glancing  in  the  morning  light, 
Displays  a  new  device,  unknown  to  all. 

Challenged,  his  tongue  trips  up  on   "Shibboleth." 
At  once  the  watchman  cries  out   "heretic!" 
The  imitative  people  answer  quick, 
Reechoing  the  charge  with  bated  breath. 

Few  care  to  sift  and  prove  the  heresy. 
One  has  his  farm,  and  one  his  merchandise. 
Do  they  not  pay  experts  to  use  their  eyes, 
And  keep  their  patrons  from  such  trouble  free? 

So  with  no  chance  to  break  a  lance  in  fight, 
But  harried  in  detraction's  wicked  way, 
And  to  its  secret  dagger  left  a  prey, 
Lies  foully  done  to  death  the  stranger  knight. 


54 


TEMPTATIONS. 

When   Christ  had  fasted  forty  painful  days, 
The  tempter  came  and  made  his  bold  assays. 

Tli on  Son  of  God,  transform  these  stones  to  bread. 
The  bread  you  wot  cannot  my  hunger  feed, 
My  yearning  love  to  succor  human  need. 
Save  by  God's  word  that  hunger  is  unfed. 

Behold  the  glory  of  this  world  of  mine  ! 
Here  worship  me  and  all  this  power  is  thine. 
l-'alse  fiend,  the  kingdoms  are  not  thine  to  give; 
And  man  must  worship  God  if  he  would  live. 

Cast  thyself  down;    'tis  written,  angel  bands 
Have  charge  of  thee,  and  in  their  gentle  hands 
Shall  bear  thee  up,  lest  thou  encounter  harm. 
In  vain  the  devil  tries  each  subtle  charm 
To  tempt  the   Lord  his  God  with  purpose  base: 
1 '.allied  he  leaves,  and  angels  take  his  place. 


55 


CHANGING  WATER   TO  WINE. 
At  Cana's  marriage,  when  they  wanted  wine, 
Christ  simply  ordered  water  from  the  well. 
And  though  he  used  no  necromantic  spell, 
The  water  changed  to  choicest  fruit  o'  the  vine. 

Water  and  wine,  two  forms  of  truth  the  same, 
Are  interchangeable  in  wisdom's  name. 
One  substance  underlies  the  divers  forms 
Of  Nature,  whose  vitality  it  warms. 

Thus  Jesus'  mighty  miracles  began. 

Glory  to  God  he  gave ;    good-will  to  man. 


PURIFICATION   OF   THE   TEMPLE. 
Make  not  my  Father's  house  a  house  of  gain, 
He  said  ;    and  scourged  them   from  their  trade  profane. 
My  house  is  rightly  called  the  house  of  prayer. 
The  people  bring  their  humble  offerings  there; 
And  grace  and  peace  the  contrite  heart  receives. 
But  ye  have  made  my  house  a  den  of  thieves. 

Since  thou  assum'st  prerogative  divine, 
Prove  thine  authority  by  certain  sign. 

Destroy  this  temple,  and  within  three  days, 
Again   its  fair  proportions  I  will  raise. 

This  temple  hath  been  building  many  a  year; 
Which  thou  forsooth  in  three  days  wouldst  uprear. 

But  Jesus  spake  of  the  soul's  sacred  shrine, 
The  human  body,  meant  henceforth  to  shine 
With  (iod's  indwelling.      Mystic  words  he  said, 
I-Aplained  when   he  was  risen   from  the  dead. 

57 


NPIW  BIRTH.      MIRACLE. 
Rabbi,  thou  art  a  teacher  come  from  God ; 
Thy  miracles  attest  Messiah's  rod. 

Who  sees  God's  kingdom  must  be  born  again. 
How  can  a  man  be  born  when  he  is  old? 
That  which  is  born  of  flesh  is  fleshly  men, 
But  spirit  claims  a  spiritual  mould. 

Life's  not  the  inheritance  of  earth-born  flesh. 
The  dead  can  neither  purchase  life  nor  sell. 
The  natural  life  is  but  the  outer  shell 
To  keep  the  growing  kernel  sweet  and  fresh. 

Why  marvel  at  the  thought  of  second  birth, 
When  miracles  abound  throughout  the  earth? 

The  unfamiliar  seems  miraculous ; 
Familiar  things  are  parts  of  nature's  course. 
Let  Reason  trace  them  to  their  primal  source, 
And  she  may  find  their  true  relations  thus. 
58 


The  wind  blows  where  it  will,  ye  know  not  whence. 

A  valid  miracle  in  consequence. 

Maturer  sense  shall  tell  both  whence  and  how ; 

Then  none  will  stare  at  weather-change  as  now. 

They'll  station  men  upon  the  mountain-tops 

To  signal  how  to  manage  ships  and  crops. 

Allowing  then  that  wind  is  only  air 

In  motion  set  by  heat-waves  here  and  there, 

Whence  do  the  waves  of  heat  derive  their  force? 

Thus  backward  step  by  step  the  wonder  moves, 

Driven  to  its  last  retreat,  its  hidden  source, 

Till  God  at  length  the  only  wonder  proves. 

Should  miracle  be  razed  from  wisdom's  page 
As  superstition  of  a  darker  age? 
Nay,  since  from  God  at  last  all  things  derive, 
It  follows  miracles  perennial  thrive. 
Life  is  a  miracle  in  every  phase. 
The  seed  springs  up  and  grows  in  secret  ways. 
Observmg  laws  ye  cannot  understand, 
Ye  plant  and  think  it  grows  at  your  command. 

59 


CAUSE    AND   EFFECT. 
In  what  precedes  a  thing  its  cause  ye  see. 
As  if  by  cause  and  its  effect  were  meant 
Mere  antecedent  and  its  consequent. 
Heaven  laughs  at  such  unripe  philosophy. 

Both  are  effects  of  unknown  spirit  laws. 
External  things  have  in  themselves  no  cause. 
All  nature  is  the  realm  of  dead  effects, 
The  shadow  that  interior  truth  projects. 

Constant  precedence,  that  so  looks  like  cause, 
And  to  the  natural  reason  so  appeals, 
Argues  that  truths  conform  to  serial  laws, 
Their  shadows  following  hard  upon  their  heels 
As  panoramic  pictures  on  a  screen 
In  sequence  like  the  originals  are  seen. 


60 


SCIENCE   AND    FAITH. 

Science  demands  your  proofs  with  accent  rough. 
The  unsophisticated  heart  believes. 
Its  own  spontaneous  faith  is  proof  enough. 

And  what  do  all  your  boasted  proofs  avail; 
Hypotheses,  whose  sandy  base  deceives, 
And  any  change  of  weather  may  assail? 

Conditions  change:    grave  science  changes  base, 
And  calmly  reconstructs ;    new  cobwebs  weaves, 
Without  misgiving  or  a  change  of  face. 

Hut  the  heart's  hope  is  founded  on  a  rock, 
That  hath  withstood  the  interminable  shock 
Of  infidelity  in  every  form, 
And  still  secure  abides  the  angry  storm. 


61 


TRUTH   AND   FACT. 

Facts  are  the  outward  clothing  of  the  mind. 
They  may  be  donned  and  doffed  as  climates  change, 
With  new  condition,  fashions,  manners  strange. 
But  still  the  unchanging  truth  remains  behind. 

Facts  are  forgotten  or  are  quite  disproved. 
The  truths  they  witness  suffer  no  decay, 
But  find  new  habitations  every  day, 
Their  deep  foundations  evermore  unmoved. 

Parable,  fable,  fiction,  solid  fact, 
Which  justly  show  how  sacred  truth  may  act, 
Are  welcome  equally  in  wisdom's  sight. 
Let  choice  of  vehicle  be  left  to  chance 
From  stage  to  stage,  if  thus  the  soul  advance 
Upon  her  journey  towards  the  realms  of  light. 


62 


REASON   AND    FAITH. 
To  find  out  God  unaided  Reason   fails: 
Therefore,  of  course,  there  is  no  God,  she  rails. 
Eyes  cannot  hear,  therefore  there  is  no  sound ; 
Ears  have  no  sight,  therefore  no  light  is  found. 

To  Reason's  search  the  book  of  truth  is  sealed. 
She  can  but  recognize  a  truth  revealed  ; 
Adumbrate  truth  by  bringing  fact  to  view. 
From  faith  alone  can  Reason  take  her  cue. 

She  hath  no  warrant  to  originate. 

Belief  in  God  is  the  heart's  postulate: 

Inwoven  in  the  texture  of  the  soul, 

Love's  warp  entwines  faith's  woof  in  seamless  whole. 


FAITH    AND    CREED. 

Misuse  of  terms,  careless  or  ignorant, 
Full  many  a  root  of  bitterness  may  plant. 
Apples  of  discord  are  the  natural  fruit 
To  be  developed  from  such  hybrid  shoot. 
In  popular  locution  faith  and  creed 
Are  synonymes :    confusion  fit  to  breed 
Successive  armies  of  Quixotic  knights, 
Armed  cap-a-pie  for  controversial  fights. 
Creed  is  a  creature  of  the  intellect, 
And  finds  embodiment  in  varied  sect. 
Faith  is  the  offspring  of  the  obedient  heart, 
The  work  of  charity  its  chosen  part. 
Creed  is  repellent,  cordial  faith  invites; 
The  one  divides,  the  other  close  unites. 
Creed  is  observant  of  cold  rigid  form. 
Faith  kindles  the  spontaneous  prayers  that  warm. 
Men  write  out  creeds  and  publish  them  in  books. 
Faith  speaks  its  messages  in  living  looks. 
To  set  up  creeds  is  human  wisdom's  boast. 
Faith  is  the  free  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
64 


SIN   AND   CRIME. 

To  break  the  ten  commandments  outwardly, 
As  simple  denizens  of  space  and  time : 
To  lie,  defraud,  to  steal  or  kill,  is  crime 
Against  the  organized  community. 

To  break  the  ten  commandments  from  within, 
To  steal  away  another's  truth  and  good, 
In  heart  deny  the  rights  of  brotherhood, 
Or  claim  Christ's  merit  as  our  own  ;    is  sin. 

Men  punish  crime  for  safety  of  the  whole. 
But  sin  is  secret,  only  known  to  God. 
Confess  to  him  and  humbly  kiss  the  rod  ; 
But  let  no  stranger  meddle  with  thy  soul. 


6*  65 


LAW. 

Man  is  the  subject  of  unchanging  law. 
Obey  a  law  and  reap  a  sure  reward. 
Transgress  a  law,  it  straight  becomes  a  sword. 
Wherein  you  fail,  find  in  yourself  the  flaw. 
Omnipotence  itself  cannot  withdraw 
The  sentence  unbribed  justice  bids  record. 
Law's  of  the  very  essence  of  the  Lord. 
Man  can  but  bow  submissive  and  in  awe. 

To  thrive  by  favor  is  the  fool's  fond  hope. 
To  foster  favorites  is  the  vice  of  kings, 
And  marks  the  meanness  despotism  brings. 
Then  pray  for  guidance  only,  and  for  light; 
And  pray  for  help  with  anarchy  to  cope. 
God's  law  is  ever  on  the  side  of  right. 


66 


PRAYER. 

Since  God's  unchangeable,  why  storm  his  throne 
With  unavailing  eloquence  of  prayer? 
The  devotee  his  worship  may  forbear ; 
As  well  do  homage  to  a  stock  or  stone. 
Let  men  of  mind  discard  the  suppliant's  tone, 
Assume  the  stoic's  un impassioned  air; 
If  need  be,  make  a  virtue  of  despair, 
And  undergo  the  load  of  life  alone. 

The  clouds,  that  hide  the  sun's  incessant  cheer, 

Spring  from  the  earth.     Soon  as  the  wind's  deft  hand 

Withdraws  the  curtain,  smiles  will  reappear. 

The  sun  of  love  never  averts  his  face. 

Mists  of  self-love  shut  out  the  heavenly  grace. 

Prayer  lifts  the  veil  ;    and  lo  the  vision  grand. 


IN  HIM  WE  LIVE  AND  MOVE  AND  HAVE  OUR 
BEING." 

God  is  the  all  in  all  of  souls  that  be. 
His  only  life  inspires  love's  passionate  breath  ; 
His  truth  reveals  each  word  that  wisdom  saith  ; 
He  is  the  inner  light  by  which  we  see. 
Man's  wiles  unwitting  work  out  God's  decree ; 
Into  each  secret  thought  he  entereth. 
Where  God  inhabits  not,  is  merely  death. 
Yet  self-willed  man  still  boasts  his  action  free. 

Man's  seeming  independence  serves  the  end 
Of  forwarding  heaven's  ultimate  design, 
Towards  which  apparent  opposites  all  tend,— 
To  lift  humanity  from  low  to  high, 
God's  image  and  his  likeness  multiply, 
And  blend  in  one  the  human  and  divine. 


68 


PANTHEISM. 

Wherefore  doth  kindly  Providence  allow 
The  prodigal  to  wander  off  so  far, 
With  monstrous  sins  his  innocence  to  mar, 
And  wallow  with  the  swine  in  selfhood's  slough  ? 
Why  not  compel  the  youth's  reluctant  vow, 
His  wayward  wickedness  by  force  debar; 
Or  fascinate  his  eye  with  virtue's  star, 
Until  to  God's  authority  he  bow? 

Wouldst  rest  content  with  Pantheism's  reign, 
With  everlasting  sameness  to  be  cloyed? 
A  firm  free  footing  every  soul  must  gain, 
A  certain  self-support  no  power  can  shake, 
A  something  of  his  own  no  power  can  take, 
Enough  to  fill  Nirvana's  empty  void. 


UNIVERSAL  FATHERHOOD. 
Father  in  heaven,  who  mak'st  thy  sun  to  rise 
Alike  upon  the  evil  and  the  good, 
How  plain  the  lesson  to  be  understood, 
That  all  are  equal  in  thy  holy  eyes. 
The  impartial  rain  moreover  testifies 
That  just  and  unjust  share  thy  fatherhood. 
If  wise  or  simple,  each  may  know  who  would 
Man's  destiny  is  woven  in  the  skies. 

If  one  sheep  of  a  hundred  goes  astray, 

Doth  the  good  shepherd  carelessly  resign 

The  straggling  waif  to  prowling  wolves  a  prey? 

Doth  he  not  rather  leave  the  ninety-nine, 

And  seek  the  lost  one,  wander  where  he  may? 

Thus  saith  the  Lord:    "Behold,  all  souls  are  mine." 


LIFE  AND    DEATH. 

I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life. 
He  that  believes  in  me,  though  he  were  dead, 
Yet  shall  he  live :    and  whosoever  lives 
And  still  believes  in  me,  shall  never  die. 

Men  fret  and  fume  and  fancy  that  they  live. 
'Tis  vain  illusion  all,  a  dance  of  death. 
Unless  God  wills  man  never  draws  a  breath. 
Life  is  the  Deity's  prerogative. 

Because  they  seem  to  work  their  own  self-will, 
Men  think  they  order  life  by  private  skill. 
Permitted  farce,  a  temporary  shift. 
Our  seeming  life's  a  momentary  gift. 

So  when  the  Lord  of  life  drew  nigh  the  grave, 
Death  fled  before  him,  coming  but  to  save. 


Though  four  days  dead,  came  Lazarus  forth  alive. 
Christ  touched  the  bier,  the  widow's  son  awoke. 
He  took  the  damsel's  hand,  her  slumber  broke. 
Where  comes  THE  LIFE  all  nature  must  revive. 
The  sick,  the  lame,  the  blind,  the  dumb,  the  maimed, 
Lepers  and  lunatics  are  all  reclaimed. 

But  greater  works  than  these  shall  ye  achieve. 
Naught  is  impossible  if  ye  believe. 
And  I  will  send  the  holy  Comforter; 
Perception  of  the  truth  shall  he  confer. 

Freely  ye  shall  receive ;    as  freely  give. 

0 
Speak  boldly  in  my  name,  the  dead  shall  live. 

Through  faith  ye  shall  accomplish  what  ye  please. 
The  very  look  of  love  shall  heal  disease. 
With  strength  divine  your  hearts  to  reinforce, 
The  gates  of  hell  shall  not  arrest  your  course. 
It  is  not  ye  that  speak,  or  act,  or  will : 
My  spirit  doth  the  docile  bosom  fill. 
Ye  only  live  because  my  life  1  lend. 
Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway  to  the  end. 

72 


THE   PARALYTIC. 

My  son,  thy  sins  be  all  forgiven  thee. 

Who  mocketh  God?    Who  speaketh  blasphemy? 

What  difference  makes  it  whether  I  should  say, 

Thy  sins  forgiven,  or,  Rise  and  go  thy  way  ? 

Sickness  and  sin  are  but  effect  and  cause, 

Related  closely  by  unvarying  laws. 

My  purpose  is  that  my  disciples  know 

The  true  relationship  of  high  and  low. 

The  Son  of  man  presides  with  like  control 

O'er  mortal  body  and  immortal  soul. 

REPENTANCE. 

Thy  brother  brings  repentance  of  the  lip. 
Though  coming  oft  thou  shalt  accept  his  plea. 
Thou  mayst  not  judge  the  heart  thou  canst  not  see, 
And  must  not  turn  from  proffered  fellowship. 
Dost  argue  thence  that  God  may  be  cajoled  ? 
Repentance  in  his  sight,  who  sees  the  heart, 
Is  turning  from  your  sins,  entire  new  start: 
Invasion  cannot  pass,  however  bold. 
7  73 


THE   BREAD   OF  LIFE. 

I  am  the  bread  of  life.     Who  eats  this  bread, 
Which  is  my  flesh,  abides  not  with  the  dead. 
How  can  this  man  give  us  his  flesh  to  eat? 
My  flesh  and  blood  are  real  drink  and  meat. 
Unless  ye  eat  my  flesh  and  drink  my  blood, 
Ye've  no  indwelling  life  to  outlive  death's  flood. 

Because  my  flesh  is  uncreated  love, 
The  living  bread  that  cometh  from  above, 
The  food  that  immortality  can  nurse, 
The  sole  self-substance  of  the  Universe. 

Because  my  blood  is  all-pervading  truth 
That  circulates  wherever  spirit  can, 
Conveying  love,  that  feeds  immortal  youth, 
To  every  part  of  consubstantial  man, 
Whose  perfect  whole  congenial  parts  disclose, 
The  macrocosm  that  microcosms  compose. 


74 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

The  spiritual  things  of  God  arc  seen 

Through  natural  things,  revealing  what  they  mean. 

The  words  I  speak  are  spirit  in  disguise. 
The  literal  sense  is  but  their  garb  of  flesh, 
'Through  which  they  may  appear  to  earthly  eyes. 
A  flood  of  light  is  ready  to  refresh 
Faith -opened  eyes ;    and  in  my  every  word 
A  world  of  meaning  by  true  ear  is  heard. 

To  eat  and  drink  mean  to  appropriate, 

To  inwardly  digest  and  make  your  own. 

Man  cannot  live  by  earthly  bread  alone. 

Heaven's  bread,  God's  word,  sustains  the  eternal  state. 

Oft  as  ye  eat  and  drink,  remember  me, 

And  with  your  daily  bread  my  body  break. 

My  blood,   the  wine  of  truth,  with  thanks  partake. 

And  so  shall  gro\v  my  likeness  silently. 


WHAT   DEFILETH. 

How  can  unwashen  hands  defile  a  man  ? 
What  entereth  the  mouth  cannot  defile. 
What  cometh  from  the  heart,  each  thought  that's  vile, 
Sly  hint  of  hypocrite  and  courtesan ; 

Envies  and  jealousies,  an  evil  eye, 

Foul  blasphemies,  whatever  makes  a  lie ; 

These  be  the  pitch  whose  touch  defiles  the  heart, 

And  leaves  its  smutch  upon  the  inward  part. 

The  inside  of  the  vessel  make  ye  clean. 
The  outside  then  will  also  pure  be  seen. 
Hand-washing  follows  choice :    let  conscience  bind 
In  what  concerns  the  washing  of  the  mind. 


HUMILITY. 

Towards  God  humility  becometh  man. 
Abject  servility  belongs  to  slaves. 
Be  humble  and  yet  noble  if  you  can  ; 
But  sycophancy  totally  depraves. 

Would  you  have  freemen  sneaking  into  grace  ? 
Think  you  that  God  delights  in  aught  that's  base? 
You  make  God  in  your  own  similitude, 
And  give  him  attributes  as  seems  you  good. 

If  you  are  favored,  what  becomes  my  plight, 
Who  ask  no  favor,  claiming  only  right? 
Imagine  not  that  God  loves  cowardice, 
Or  any  other  soul-degrading  vice. 

No  doubt  he  pities,  and  in  tenderness 
Sends  chastisement,  as  love  disguised,  to  bless. 
Worship  to  ( idd,  honor  to  man   be  shown; 
Yet  self-respect  mu>t   firmly  hold  its  own. 


77 


CONSISTENCY. 

To  be  consistent  one  should  never  change. 
The  thing  that  hath  been  shall  forever  be. 
Let  faith  and  hope  and  love  wait  passively 
With  "Mariana  in  the  moated  grange." 
Repentance  even  is  beyond  the  range 
Of  thorough-going  strict  consistency. 
Rely  on  old  tradition's  guarantee. 
Leave  to  adventurers  the  new  and  strange. 

Thus  nightmare  warns.     What  doth  the  Spirit  say? 

Think  not  beforehand  what  to  speak  or  do. 

The  heart's  spontaneous  impulses  obey. 

The  present  duty  faithfully  pursue. 

Ignoring  past  and  future,  act  to-day; 

And  seeming  opposites  shall  both  prove  true. 


CONFORMITY. 

How  may  the  wrangling  sects  at  last  agree, 
And  live  thenceforth  in  mutual  harmony? 
Meekly  submit  to  one  o'ermastering  mind. 
Choose  him  as  umpire ;    let  his  sentence  bind. 
If  some  stout  protestant  still  lifts  his  head, 
Stretch  him  at  once  on  the  procrustean  bed. 
Gain  uniformity  at  any  price ; 
For  non-conformity's  a  vulgar  vice. 

Infinity  evolves  variety. 

Hence  no  two  human  minds  are  quite  alike. 
The  coiner's  die,  made  by  a  man,  will  strike 
A  thousand  coins,  each  a  fac-simile. 
Is  the  Creator  like  a  mere  machine  ? 
The  artist's  patient  hand-work  will  supply 
A  more  germane  comparison  whereby 
God's  pains  with  individuals  may  be  seen. 

In  charity  all   parties  may  agree. 
In  doctrine  even   COIIM  iriire  must  be  free. 
79 


INNOCENCE. 

Unconscious  childhood  trips  along  in  glee, 
Each  attitude  displaying  native  grace. 
Beaming  with  fresh  intelligence,  the  face 
In  simple  confidence  looks  up  to  thee. 
Accounting  innocence  life's  richest  fee, 
Why  may  not  manhood  run  its  headlong  race, 
At  careless  childhood's  easy  loitering  pace, 
And  reach  the  goal  from  misadventure  free? 

Each  new-fledged  soul  reveals  a  thought  of  God  : 
A  truth  in  embryo  forms  its  inward  parts. 
But  clogged  with  selfhood's  cloak  of  sinful  flesh, 
The  world's  defiling  ways  'tis  doomed  to  plod. 
Lord,  wash  our  feet,  and  bid  us  start  afresh, 
Our  guide,  thy  law  engraven  on  our  hearts. 


80 


LOVE  THY   NEIGHBOR   AS  THYSELF. 

Attend   to  thine  own   business,  counsels  sell  : 
And  straining  every  nerve,  with  hungry  greed, 
To  gather  ample  store  of  worldly  pelf, 
Stifles  compassion  for  his  brother's  need. 

Who  would  be  disenthralled  must  pay  the  price. 
Let  other  men  bestir  themselves  like  me. 
I   give  them  good  example  and  advice. 
Am  1  my  brother's  legalized  trustee? 

E'en  so,  thou  art  thy  brother's  keeper,  Cain. 
Thou  mayst  not  hoard  thy  goods  on  private  shelf. 
Count  naught  thine  own  that's  not  his  equal  gain. 
Thou  shalt  e'en  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself. 


THE   LIMIT  OF   HAPPINESS., 
Be  good  to  thine  own  soul,  the  miser  said : 
And  double-locked  the  door-way  of  his  heart. 
Accepting  favors,  he  will  none  impart. 
Unblessed  with  love,  in  hell  he  makes  his  bed. 
The  lover  wooed  a  maiden ;  won  and  led 
The  blushing  bride  to  Hymen's  happy  mart. 
To  prove  each  other  perfect  bounds  their  art. 
A  narrow  round  of  human  bliss  they  tread. 

Who  loves  another  in  him  doubly  lives. 

As  many  loves  so  many  lives  has  he. 

He  dwells  where'er  congenial  hearts  are  found. 

The  giver,  God,  himself  entirely  gives. 

He  chiefly  lives  in  those  his  love  sets  free; 

Whence  heaven  is  happiness  that  knows  no  bound. 


82 


TRUE   DOCTRINE. 

The  champions  of  opposing  doctrines  fight. 
Each  claiming  victory,  they  oft  renew 
The  endless  battle.     What  can  laymen  do 
When  doctors  disagree,  and  both  seem  right? 

The  proverb  says  that  one  man's  wholesome  meat 
Another's  poison  proves.     May  we  not  find, 
The  proper  truth  to  nourish  every  mind 
Requires  selection  equally  discreet? 

The  man  who  does  God's  will,  the  Saviour  said, 
Shall  know  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  true. 
Simple  obedience  holds  the  secret  clew 
By  which  the  soul  life's  labyrinth  may  tread. 

Only  the  pure  in  heart  God's  truth  perceive ; 
And  with  the  heart  alone  the  pure  ^believe. 

Dt  # 

03T 


SACRED   AND   PROFANE. 
Some  keep  religion  and  philosophy 
Partitioned  bookcase-like  with  sliding  door. 
On  opening  one,  the  other's  closed  the  more. 
A  wise  precaution  lest  they  disagree.1 

A  place  for  everything,  and  each  in  place. 
Mixed  dialectics  is  a  wild-goose-chase. 

Would  you  be  firm  in  faith,  without  one  doubt? 
Then  shut  your  ears ;    keep  controversy  out. 
Attend  one  church ;    repeat  its  prayers  and  creed. 
Let  one  sectarian  sheet  supply  your  need. 

Quoth  self-complacency,  with  lofty  ease, 

"My  mind's  made  up,  say  anything  you  please." 

At  one  ear  in,  the  other  out,  it  goes. 

Naught  can  disturb  pure  egotism's  repose. 


A  TIME   FOR  ALL   THINGS. 
Sunday  for  God,  week-days  for  man's  concerns. 
A  time  for  all  things ;    let  them  take  their  turns. 
Sacred  and  secular  should  never  mix, 
Proprieties  time-honored  to  unfix. 

Conduct  your  business  in  a  business  way, 
Reserving  charity  for  holiday ; 
To  think  of  others'   claims  distracts  the  mind. 
The  devil's  logic  favors  his  own  kind. 

DECEITFULNESS   OF  RICHES. 
But  where' s  the  profit,  though  you  gain  the  world, 
And  lose  your  soul,  in  gloomy  sheol  hurled. 

Oh,  miserable  illusion  of  great  wealth, 
Acquired  through  loss  of  love,  and  loss  of  ease, 
And  hardening  of  heart,  and  legal  stealth, 
And  lust  of  gain  that  millions  can't  appease! 


And  for  what  end?     To  be  the  cynosure 
Of  vulgar  gaze,  whose  praise  is  insecure. 

And  though  wealth  take  not  wings  and  fly  away, 
As  oft  it  wont ;    it  still  behind  must  stay 
When  we  go  hence  to  sojourn  here  no  more, 
Far  faring  to  that  unreturning  shore. 

Lay  up  your  everlasting  treasures  there, 
Beyond  the  reach  of  rust  and  cankering  care ; 
True  riches,  generous  love  that  takes  no  fee: 
For  where  your  treasure  is  your  heart  will  be. 

GOOD   STEWARDSHIP. 

But  thanks  to  God  who  rules  the  human  heart, 
Not  all,  like  Cain,  a  brother's  claims  deny. 
Some,  like  Girard,  have  heard  the  orphan's  cry. 
May  many  choose  the  blessed  giver's  part. 

The  earth,  O  Lord,  is  full  of  riches  thine. 
Good  stewardship  is  manhood's  noblest  sign. 
86 


PERSONAL   SALVATION. 
May  I  but  'scape  the  yawning  jaws  of  hell, 
And  safely  land  within  the  golden  gate, 
Secure  from  further  risk  of  dubious  fate, 
My  rescued  soul  shall  sing :    all  now  is  well. 
What  endless  joy  the  story  o'er  to  tell, 
How  I  was  snatched  just  ere  it  was  too  late  ! 
What  ecstasies  my  precious  soul  await ! 
To  heaven's  high  throne  let  hallelujahs  swell. 

Who  then  shall  fight  the  battles  of  the  Lord? 
Who  share  the  burden  of  a  brother's  doom? 
Who  stem  the  headlong  tide  of  human  ill? 
Gird  me,  I  pray,  with  Gideon's  daring  sword; 
Or  bid  me  make  my  bed  'mid  Hades'  gloom, 
So  I  but  help  to  work  God's  holy  will. 


TOLERANCE. 

We  saw,  outcasting  devils  in  thy  name, 
One  not  of  us,  whom  therefore  we  forbade. 
Forbid  him  not.     True  faith  he  must  have  had. 
Of  Jew  or  Gentile  a  good  deed's  the  same. 
I'm  not  the  founder  of  a  narrow  sect. 
In  every  nation  he  that  doeth  good 
Asserts  his  right  to  Christian  brotherhood. 
Sincerity's  the  test  of  God's  elect. 

REVENGE. 

If  Christ  were  God,  why  crushed  he  not  his  foes  ? 
In  conscious  triumph  asks  the  infidel. 
Because  he's  God,  and  not  impatient  man. 
He  came  the  wrath  of  cruel  man  to  quell ; 
Not  to  increase  the  sum  of  human  woes. 
By  following  out  your  diabolic  plan 
The  catalogue  of  human  ills  would  swell, 
And  sink  the  soul  in  deeper  depths  of  hell. 
Pray  for  your  enemies.      May  they  not  be 
Stray  children  of  your  father's  family? 
88 


WHO   IS   CHIEF? 

Upon  his  throne  the  despot  swells  with  pride, 
As  round  him  crouch  a  sycophantic  throng, 
Whose  fears  confess  all  rights  to  him  belong. 
For  his  delight  alone  the  slaves  provide. 
An  abject  people  strive  their  griefs  to  hide ; 
While,  urged  by  selfish  lusts,  the  rich  and  strong 
Oppress  the  weak  and  poor  with  cruel  wrong, 
Till  every  natural  birthright  is  denied. 

The  King  of  kings  resigns  celestial  state 
To  bear  our  burdens,  all  our  sickness  cure; 
To  bless  because  we  need,  though  not  deserve. 
Foreboding  downfall  to  the  haughty  great, 
His  own  example  proves  this  precept  sure : 
Who  would  be  chief  among  you,  let  him  serve. 


8*  89 


THE   SNARE   OF   RICHES. 

Good  master:    What  shall  make  salvation  sure? 
Why  call'st  me  good?     There  is  none  good  but  One. 
Keep  the  commandments.     So  I've  ever  done. 
One  thing  thou  lackest  to  make  all  secure : 
Sell  all  thou  hast,  divide  among  the  poor, 
The  snare  of  great  possessions  thus  to  shun, 
With  me  the  race  of  self-denial  run, 
And  treasure  thou  shalt  have  that  will  endure. 

Sadly  the  young  man  left.     How  hardly  they 
Who  trust  in  riches,  find  the  narrow  way ! 
But  ye,  who  have  left  all  to  follow  me, 
In  the  regeneration,  kings  shall  be. 
Though  persecution  be  your  lot  to-day, 
Your  recompense  shall  last  eternally. 


90 


GOD'S   DWELLING-PLACE. 
Jehovah  infinite,  where  dwellest  thou? 
Not  highest  heaven,  nor  hell's  profoundest  deep, 
Nor  widest  bounds  of  earth  thy  presence  keep, — 
A  true  Shechinah  where  mankind  may  bow. 
What  outward  altar  bears  thy  sanction  now, 
Where  heart-sick  penitence  may  kneel  and  weep, 
And  soul-reviving  faith  with  joy  may  leap, 
Or  fear  may  pay  its  mercenary  vow? 

Oh,  pious  pilgrim,  seeking  holy  lands 

For  traffic  in  religion's  market-place, 

Sad  relic  thou  of  priestcraft's  waning  art. 

God  dwelleth  not  in  temples  made  with  hands : 

Pure  spirit  hath  no  fellowship  with  space. 

God  dwelleth  only  in  the  human  heart. 


"I    HAVE   YET   MANY  THINGS   TO   SAY,"  ETC. 
There's  much  beyond  your  present  reach  of  thought. 
The  highest  truths  by  time  are  slowly  taught. 
Obedience,  clear  discernment  will  confer, 
And  I  will  send  the  true  interpreter, 
The  Paraclete  replete  with  gospel  sooth. 
He  shall  develop  insight  into  truth, — 
Now  dimly  seen  as  in  a  darkened  glass, — 
That  all  your  former  knowledge  shall  surpass. 
The  world  makes  out  no  inkling  of  my  aims ; 
Thinks  esoteric  truths  mere  empty  names. 
The  world  believes  what  outward  eye  commands, 
What  can  be  handled  with  material  hands ; 
Such  things  as  perish  in  their  present  use. 
The  ripening  fruits  their  husks  have  helped  produce. 
We  take  the  fruit  but  leave  the  husk  behind. 
The  parables  and  fables  of  our  youth, 
If  inwardly  digested  yield  some  truth 
To  nourish  the  maturer  growth  of  mind. 
But  when  he  takes  those  leading-strings  for  guides, 
The  man  his  childhood's  hobby-horse  bestrides. 

92 


DAILY  PROVIDENCE. 

God  hears  the  ravens  when  they  cry  for  food ; 
Which  neither  sow  nor  reap  nor  store  uplay. 
Are  ye  not  better  than  the  feathered  brood? 

Why  take  ye  thought    for  raiment  ?     Lilies  fair 
Nor  toil  nor  spin  to  win  their  bright  array. 
Are  ye  not  worthier  his  watchful  care? 

Then  waste  no  thought  on  mere  external  things, 
With  grovelling  care  to  wear  each  weary  day. 
God  knows  your  need  and  timely  succor  brings. 

If  think  you  must,  think  on  life's  broken  vow. 
Think  on  sweet  charities ;    on  others'  claims. 
Hut  for  the  morrow  take  no  thought.     Live  now. 

To-morrows,  when  they  come,  will  be  to-days. 
Seek  first  God's  kingdom.  Other  lesser  aims 
The  one  thing  needful  largely  underlays. 


93 


KEEPING   THE    SABBATH. 

Woman,  thou'rt  loosed  from  thine  infirmity. 

Out-spake  the  sacristan  indignantly, 

Six  days  for  labor :    come  then  and  be  healed. 

Thou  hypocrite,  dost  let  thy  cattle  thirst  ? 

Wouldst  let  this  woman  suffer?     Which  ranks  first? 

Traditions  of  the  elders  are  repealed.    " 

Keep  Sabbath  strictly,  save  for  mercy's  needs. 

Rest  from  your  sins;    but  rest  not  from  good  deeds. 

CHRIST'S   FRIENDS. 

Not  they  who  say  long  prayers  upon  the  street, 
And  give  conspicuous  alms,  and  fast  in  sight; 
But  whose  left  hand  ignores  the  gracious  right, 
Whose  faith  is  active;    these  my  friends  I  greet. 

LEADING   MOTIVES. 

Men  fancy  that  pure  reason  is  their  guide, 
When  taste  or  passion  or  unreasoning  pride 
Determines  all  their  course;    and  reason's  task 
Is  but  to  hide  the  face  with  seemly  mask. 
94 


OMNIPOTENCE. 

But  whence,  if  God  is  love  and  love  is  power, 
Whence  cometh  hatred  with  its  murderous  train? 
Whence  avarice  intent  on  selfish  gain  ? 
Whence  pride  that  looketh  down  with  haughty  lower? 

Whence  crafty  cunning  keen  to  circumvent, 
And  meanness  that  with  sneaking  step  doth  cower, 
And  rapine  ready  peaceful  plains  to  scour, 
If  God  is  love  and  love  omnipotent  ? 

Omnipotence  is  not  a  brutal  force. 

It  doth  not  seize  the  sinner  by  the  hair,2 

And  lift  him  bodily  to  purer  air, 

And  all  his  imperfections  thus  endorse. 

Omnipotence  displays  his  mastery 
By  leading  skilfully  through  hopes  and  fears, 
Till;  thus  indulged,  the  manikin  appears 
The  arbiter  of  his  own  destiny. 


95 


LIFE'S  OVERFLOW. 

The  life  divine,  that  floods  the  human  soul, 
Is  infinite  in  finite  boundary. 
A  sea  between  quite  narrow  banks  may  roll 
If  no  obstruction  check  its  passage  free. 
But  let  Niagara  encounter  rocks; 
And  furious  foam  attends  the  thundering  shocks. 

Selfhood,  still  unsubdued  by  discipline, 

Would  every  privilege  Appropriate  ; 

While  other  selfhoods  set  up  claims  as  great, 

Other  Niagaras  that  rush  en  masse 

To  gain  precedence,  each  at  the  same  pass : 

Earthquakes,  whirlwinds,  chaos;    mingle  their  din. 

In  the  far  future,  when  we  stand  redeemed, 

The  conflicts  of  experimental  life 

Will  seem  like  phantoms  which  our  childhood  dreamed, 

Unreal  as  the  playground's  mimic  strife. 


96 


GOD'S   LIKENESS. 

To  passing  glance  though  goodness  make  no  sign 

On  many  a  careless,  many  a  careworn  face, 

The  kindly  eye  of  sympathy  may  trace 

Distinctive  traits  of  lineage  divine. 

A  precious  gem,  concealed  in  darksome  mine, 

Betrays  no  token  of  its  native  grace, 

Till  searching  light  reveals  its  hiding-place, 

And  vests  it  with  the  privilege  to  shine. 

Discords  develop  latent  harmonies. 

The  frown  of  night  involves  the  cheerful  day. 

A  rugged  husk  the  ripening  fruit  implies. 

The  all-creative  Love,  himself  to  please, 

Shall  mould  his  image  from  our  common  clay, 

And  make  his  likeness  shine  through  human  eyes. 


97 


CHRIST'S   LAMENTATION   OVER  JERUSALEM. 
Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  how  oft, 
With  kindlier  care  than  brooding  nature  brings, 
Would  I  have  sheltered  you  beneath  the  wings 
Of  Mercy's  dove,  than  mother's  breast  more  soft. 
But  ye  would  not.      My  proffered  love  ye  scoffed. 
Daily  your  priests  profane  (rod's  holy  things. 
Self-righteous  scorn  upon  the  lowly  flings 
High  looks  from  where  it  proudly  sits  aloft. 

Behold,  your  desolation  draweth  nigh. 

Armies  shall  compass  your  devoted  walls. 

One  stone  upon  another  shall  not  stay. 

But  think  ye  that's  the  worst?     I  tell  you  nay. 

The  wrath  of  man  is  meant  to  typify 

The  desolation  of  a  soul  that  falls. 


98 


WASHING   THE   DISCIPLES'  FEET. 

Then  supper  o'er,  the  Lord  a  towel  took, 
Poured  water  and  began  to  wash  their  feet. 
Lord,  dost  thou  stoop  our  lowest  wants  to  meet? 
Cried  Peter,  with  amazement  in  his  look. 
The  act  your  reverence  now  can  hardly  brook 
Hereafter  shall  with  wisdom  prove  replete. 
Again, — to  check  persistence  indiscreet, — 
The  names  of  those  I  wash  make  up  God's  book. 

Then  Jesus  said  :    Know  ye  what  I  have  done  ? 
Ye  call  me  Lord  and  Master.     That  is  true. 
If  I  your  Master  never  have  abhorred 
The  meanest  offices  for  every  one, 
Let  my  example  teach  you  what  to  do. 
The  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  Lord. 


99 


THE  AGONY. 

The  garden  of  Gethsemane  by  night 
Concealed  his  agony  from  mortal  sight. 
Abba,  my  Father,  all  the  power  is  thine. 
Remove  from  me,  I  pray,  this  bitter  cup. 
But  if  with  this  last  trial  I  must  sup, 
Drain  to  the  dregs  this  cup  of  wrathful  wine, 
Then  let  thy  mighty  patience  bear  me  up, 
And  let  thy  holy  will  be  done,  not  mine. 

THE   BETRAYAL. 

A  mob,  with  swords  and  staves  as  'gainst  a  thief, 
Then  came  upon  him.     Judas  was  their  chief. 
He'd  given  them  a  sign  they  could  not  miss: 
Hail,  master;    and  betrayed  him  with  a  kiss. 

Arch-traitor  of  the  world,  go  to  thy  place. 
Hell  hath  no  further  use  for  thee  on  earth. 
The  fiends,  whose  counsel  gave  thy  treason  birth, 
Await  thy  coming,  pleased  with  thy  disgrace. 


100 


NON-RESISTANCE. 

Put  up  thy  sword  or  perish  by  the  sword. 
Think  you  I  could  not  now  my  Father  pray 
Legions  of  angels  succor  to  afford? 
But  then  the  Scriptures  how  could  we  obey, 
And  man  be  saved  from  suicide  of  soul? 

The  conqueror  only  maketh  war  to  cease 

When  utter  desolation  bringeth  peace. 

God's  conquests  must  preserve  the  conquered  whole ; 

Change  enemies  to  friends  with  their  consent, 

And  leave  them  with  submission  well  content. 

MOCK   TRIAL. 

They  led  him  to  the  high-priest  to  be  tried. 
Hypocrisy  and  priestcraft  formed  the  court. 
The  proof  false  witnesses,  self- falsified. 
Verdict  and  sentence  followed  swift  and  short. 


101 


THE    DENIAL. 

Alas,  the  follower  the  Lord  first  chose, 
The  one  he  saved  when  boisterous  waves  arose, 
Ordained  the  Spirit's  mouth-piece  to  reveal 
"Thou  art  the  Christ;"   Peter,  the  rock,  all  zeal; 
Heaven's  janitor ;  a  witness  to  recount 
The  glorious  transformation  on  the  mount ; 
The  first  to  draw  the  sword,  true  to  the  death; 
This  man  denied  the  Lord  with  lying  breath. 

And  Jesus  turned  and  looked  on  Peter,  mute. 
But  that  grieved  look,  more  eloquent  than  wrath, 
The  perjured  bosom  pierced  with  pang  acute 
Of  deep  remorse ;    to  be  assuaged  in  bath 
Not  of  weak  tears,  but  blood,  soon  to  be  shed 
By  that  kind  heart  which  suffers  in  our  stead. 


ASCENT   OF  CALVARY. 

He  is  delivered  to  be  crucified. 

And  now  his  manly  shoulders  meekly  bow 

Beneath  another's  load.     With  patient  stride 

He  slowly  climbs,  skull-mount,  thy  frowning  brow. 

Not  unlike  Samson,  the  strong  Nazarite, 

Clambering  high  Hebron's  hill,  with  Gaza's  gates 

Ponderous  upon  his  iron-sinewed  back. 

Yet  most  unlike :    for  in  that  cross  unite 

Enough  of  mortal  sins  and  "human  hates 

To  sink  the  world ;    should  his  endurance  lack. 


103 


THE   CRUCIFIXION. 
As  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent,  so 
The  Son  of  man  was  lifted  up,  to  show 
How  well  he  loved  the  world,  and  meant  to  draw 
All  men  to  him,  by  love's  attractive  law. 

The  sensual  serpent  of  the  human  heart, 
To  heal,  not  hurt,  may  henceforth  fill  its  part. 
Man's  lower  nature  now  may  pure  uprise, 
Like  Christ,  his  prototype,  to  native  skies. 

In  his  own  body  on  the  cursed  tree 
Christ  bare  our  sins,  our  captive  souls  to  free. 
•Vain  self  must  die  with  him,  and  pride  be  slain, 
If  we  with  him  for  evermore  would  reign. 


104 


Eloi,  Eloi,  lama  sabachthani? 

My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me? 

Jesus,  thou  Lamb  of  God,  who  tak'st  away 
The  sins  o'  the  world,  by  thine  atonement  true, 
Tenrh  us  thy  last  triumphant  prayer  to  say: 
Father,  forgive,  they  know  not  what  the}'  do. 

Infinite  love!    divine  humility! 

We  l)o\\   down  to  the  dust;    we  worship  thee. 

Oh,  what  are  all  the  pomp  and  power  of  kings, 

Beside  the  majesty  of  self-control, 

That,  asking  nothing,  gives  its  very  soul 

To  ransom  men,  the  thoughtless,  thankless  things. 


105 


THE   ATONEMENT. 

'Tis  finished,  the  beloved  Redeemer  cried. 
Then  bowed  the  head  of  innocence,  and  died. 

What's  finished?     Literalism  prompt  replies: 
The  foreordained  vicarious  sacrifice. 

Innocence  executed  in  guilt's  place  ! 

No  other  way  to  save  a  ruined  race  ! 

Untutored  savages  reject  the  tale. 

Nor  with  an  upright  child  can  it  prevail 

Until  he  be  most  diligently  schooled, 

His  native  sense  of  right  and  wrong  o'erruled. 

Christ  died  the  just  for  the  unjust,  as  though 
He  took  our  place,  our  death  to  undergo. 
To  save  our  lives  the  Lord  his  life  resigned ; 
Yet  not  in  lieu  of  vengeance  due  mankind. 

Palpable  contradiction,  haste  will  say. 
Impatience,  pass  along  thy  blundering  way. 
1 06 


HUMAN    ERROR. 
Appearances  a  tabula  rasa  find 
In  the  fresh  field  of  undeveloped  mind. 
To  such  intelligence  mistakes  are  sure. 
But  time  and  labor  every  fault  will  cure. 

God's  patience  calmly  bears  with  man's  mistakes, 
As  age  by  age  dull  faculty  awakes. 
Mistakes  are  stepping-stones  to  human  growth. 
Without  them  man  stands  still  in  brutish  sloth. 
So  have  some  stood  a  thousand  weary  years, 
Hugging  delusive  hopes  and  foolish  fears. 

Awake,  thou  sleeper,  rise  and  leave  the  dead, 
As  Christ  hath  risen.     Follow  in  his  tread, 
And  he  shall  give  thine  understanding,  light 
Wisely  to  walk,  and  not  as  fools  by  night, 
Still  stumbling  o'er  traditions  men  have  taught, 
But  sharing  in  the  freedom  Christ  hath  bought. 


107 


: ..: 


Why  hath  it 

To  unfold  a  troth  JOB  s 

The  /arts  were  trae  two 

The  /nrt*  of  feet  few  mmds  then  cared  to 


• '  i   "  ir     j   .  /.~         .      ~"i        '."    -  T~  L   z    '    T  ™ 
The  tnfihfhl  heart's 
I    ::   :>.-    ir-r      :>.  r.jr   : "_:    irjrl?   .  •> 

*". "I .  —LT.  1     J.     ...".."  T  1 


INHERITED   CREEDS. 

And  even  now  few  delve  in  wisdom's  mine. 
To  mere  external  things  most  men  incline. 

Science  and  mammon  nigh  monopolize 
The  keenest  intellects  with  projects  bold,— 
Railroads  and  ships  and  banks  and  merchandise, 
Law,  medicine,  inventions  manifold. 

What  time  have  they  for  visionary  cares? 
Let  priests  and  women  traffic  in  such  wares. 
Yet  these  grandees  well-weighed  opinions  claim, 
And  seem  quite  jealous  for  their  pious  fame. 

Through  slight  confusion  in  the  use  of  terms 
Opinions  grand  mere  prejudice  affirms. 
False  pride  and  indolence  perpetuate 
Errors  inherited  with  family  plate. 


no 


QUIET   AND    PROGRESS. 

Church  councils  have  determined  on  the  creed. 
True  faith  is  settled  now  beyond  debate. 
For  peace  and  quiet  thanks  to  happy  fate. 
Of  controversy  there's  no  further  need. 
From  worry  about  doubtful  doctrines  freed, 
The  heart  its  own  elysium  may  create, 
With  unconcern  enjoy  its  present  state, 
And   no  intrusive  questionings  impede. 

Nothing  is  settled  save  that  God  is  true, 
Though  every  man  should  prove  a  living  lie. 
For  God  there's  nothing  old  and  nothing  new. 
For  man  arrest  of  progress  means  to  die. 
To  live  is  still  to  gain  a  wider  view, 
Till  new  horizons  reach  beyond  the  sky. 


in 


THE    BURIAL. 

They  sadly  laid  him  in  the  new-made  tomb, 
And  went  their  way  in  silence  and  in  gloom. 
All  hope  seemed  lost ;    the  Lamb  of  God  was  slain ; 
And  all  his  painful  travail  seemed  in  vain. 

THE    RESURRECTION. 

On  the  third  morn  three  women  came  alone. 
An  angel-hand  had  rolled  away  the  stone. 
On  entering  in  they  met  a  youth  who  said : 
Seek  not  the  living  here  among  the  dead. 
He's  risen.     See  the  place  where  he  was  laid. 
Trembling  they  fled,  for  they  were  sore  afraid. 
To  the  disciples-,  when  they  came  all  pale, 
Their  wondrous  words  seemed  like  an  idle  tale, 
Which  they  believed  not,  till  the  Lord  appeared, 
And  with  salaam  of  peace  their  spirits  cheered. 


112 


EASTER. 

Why  bursts  all  nature  forth  in  sudden  bloom, 
Tree,  hedge,  and  river-bank  with  blossoms  bright, 
Perfuming  all  the  air,  that  yester-night 
Still  shrieked  in  tones  recalling  Winter's  gloom  ? 
'Tis  Easter  morn.     The  dark  and  dismal  tomb, 
Emblem  of  death,  who  touches  but  to  blight, 
No  longer  holds  the  Lord  of  life  and  light. 
Therefore  doth  Spring  her  gala  dress  resume. 

Grouped  into  garlands  gay  of  human  flowers, 

The  happy  children,  with  united  voice, 

Pour  forth  a  chorus  of  triumphant  song. 

What  theme,  I  pray,  inspires  their  tuneful  powers? 

The  Lord  is  risen :    let  the  earth  rejoice, 

And  joyful  echoes  let  the  heavens  prolong. 


113 


THE  ASCENSION. 

He  led  them  forth  as  far  as  Bethany. 
Raising  his  hands,  he  blessed  them.     While  he  Messed, 
The  heavens  received  him.     To  eternal  rest? 
Nay,  his  vast  work,  the  human  raee  to  free,  f 

Was  but  begun.     The  boon  of  liberty, 
Which  all  the  rabid  powers  of  hell  contest, 
And  human  tyranny  has  oft  repressed, 
Will  claim  his  safeguard  to  eternity. 

PREACHING   THE   GOSPEL. 
To  aid  the  arduous  task  that  feeble  band 
Forth  fared  like  lambs  among  a  wolfish  horde. 
Hunted,  imprisoned,  scourged,  put  to  the  sword, 
How  can  they  hope  the  demons  to  withstand  ? 

But  though  they  have  no  courage  of  their  own, 
The  Lord  will  send  them  succor  from  on  high : 
His  unseen  hand  will  be  forever  nigh  ; 
He  will  not  leave  them  comfortless — alone. 

114 


FINAL   TRIUMPH. 

Love's  power  is  gentle,  but  exceeding  strong. 
The  violence  of  man  may  work  delay. 
His  stubborn  will  may  seem  God's  hand  to  stay; 
But  patient  Mercy  waits  and  suffers  long. 

A  thousand  years  with  God  are  but  a  day. 
A  single  day  is  like  a  thousand  years. 
Unswayed  by  human  hopes  or  human  fears, 
His  love  at  length  will  have  its  own  lief  way. 


L'ENVOI. 

Dear  Master,  might  a  novice  see  thy  face, 
As  the  disciples  saw  thee  day  by  day, 
While  walking  with  thee,  talking  by  the  way 
Of  all  the  wonders  of  redeeming  grace : 
Thy  looks  of  kind  compassion  might  he  trace, 
While  healing  sickness,  helping  souls  astray, 
Blessing  the  children,  teaching  men  to  pray; 
He  would  exclaim  :    God's  house  is  in  this  place. 

Thy  wish  is  granted.      Cast  thine  eyes  around. 
Unconscious  smiles  of  innocence  are  mine. 
Since  God  alone  is  good,  where  good  is  found 
Thou  findest  me;   where  two  their  prayers  combine, 
There  am  I  in  the  midst.     Let  love  abound ; 
Be  duty  done  ;    and  life  becomes  divine. 


116 


NOTES. 

i.     Page  84. 

"The  man  who  can  keep  his  science  and  his  religion  in 
two  boxes,  either  of  which  may  be  opened  separately,  is  to 
be  congratulated."  Review  of  Le  Conte's  "  Evolution  and 
Religious  Thought."—  The  Nation.  No.  1202. 


2.     Page  95. 

"God  doth  not  drag  the  struggling  creature,  by  the  hair 
of  the  head,  up  to  his  own  impracticable  heights." — Henry 
James,  Sr. 


f/v 
lUHIVBRSITT 


..     :..-; 


